Eurovision Song Contest, reading or listening to these three simple words you can remember an entire life, moments of joy, laughter, emotion, frustration, tension or triumph. It is probably the only thing that really unites all European nations, is part of our life and our collective history, a history between nations, states, cultures which are different, without common roots or neighbour relationship.
    It was that vision, 61 years ago when Marcel Bezençon with a brave group of people wanted to join the peoples of Europe under the prism of art, creativity, culture and dignified coexistence. It was a project that not only succeeded but managed to surpass all expectations and spread all over the world.
    Born in the ashes of post-war Europe the Eurovision Song Contest sprang up like a Phoenix and spread its wings shyly over The Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg and Italy, the seven first countries to have ever took part.
    Sixty-one years later, from 1956 to 2016, the number of the countries that participated to the contest is really sweeping, fifty-two: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, United Kingdom , Sweden, Monaco, Norway, Finland, Spain, Yugoslavia, Portugal, Ireland, Malta, Israel, Greece, Turkey, Morocco, Cyprus, Iceland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Russia , Slovakia, FYR Macedonia, Latvia, Ukraine, Albania, Andorra, Belarus, Serbia and Montenegro, Bulgaria, Moldova, Armenia, Czech Republic, Georgia, Montenegro, Serbia, Azerbaijan, San Marino and Australia.
    Overcoming the problems that the policy has never been able to resolve the Eurovision Song Contest succeeded where no one else could, managed what no one imagined, love, respect, dignity, diversity, freedom of expression of art in almost all its forms found the most ideal and fertile soil and  in its bowels.
    World famous artists were born and passed through Eurovision, the contest was the beginning and the zenith for many careers, for singers and people of show business but also for people who have fought and are fighting to give their best behind the cameras, behind the lights. They are the invisible heroes, people that without their professionalism and their working accuracy this magic result could never take shape.
    Having as an ally the love and support of the world, the Eurovision Song Contest this year was able to have the largest number of participants in its history. Forty-three countries, forty-three songs will performed this year on the stage of Eurovision organized by Sweden in the beautiful city of Stockholm after the victory of Måns Zelmerlöw with the song Heroes in Vienna 2015.
    With six wins in potential (1974, 1984, 1991, 1999, 2012, 2015) Sweden is only one step behind of the Contest’s Queen Ireland with seven victories of which three were consecutive (1992, 1993, 1994).
    Big surprise of this year's competition was the return of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Ukraine and Bulgaria in conjunction with the formal accession of Australia. Unlike Portugal decided not to take part and to review the system of the national selection of the artist, expecting 2017 to return.
    The stadium that will be held the sixty-first contest is known as Ericsson Globe or originally called Stockholm Globe Arena, which has hosted the contest again back in 2000. It is a lovely white spherical structure with a diameter of 110 meters and a height of 87 meters. Its capacity reaches 16,000 viewers for Shows and Concerts and 13,850 spectators for hockey on ice.
    The public broadcaster of Sweden, SVT, to which we owe the organization of this year's competition has decided to entrust the presentation of the three live shows (10, 12 and 14 of May) in two presenters, the winner of last year's contest Måns Zelmerlöw and the wonderful and dear to everyone Petra Mede. Petra was the single presenter of the competition in Malmö 2013, and co presenter in the anniversary program for the 60 Year competition the Eurovision Song Contest's Greatest Hits that was held in Persian Eventim Apollo, London, UK.
    A few days ago it took part the draw for the countries positions in the two semi-finals, known to all of us under the title “Allocation Draw”. The event was presented to the City Hall of Stockholm from the Greek origin Alexandra Paschalidou and Jovan Radomir.
    Therefore, the first part of the first semi-final we have Armenia, Finland, Greece, Croatia, Moldova, The Netherlands, Russia, San Marino and Hungary. While the second half of the first semi-final Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Estonia, Iceland, Malta, Montenegro, the Czech Republic and Austria.
    In the first part of the second semi-final will compete in Australia, Ireland, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, FYR Macedonia, Poland, Switzerland, Serbia and Belarus. And respectively in the second half of the second semi-final Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Georgia, Norway, Romania, Slovenia and Ukraine.
    The final order of appearance is determined by the specialists of the program, and at this point we should remind that in the semi-finals Big 5 and the winning country give their votes. In the process of Allocation Draw decided by the draw that in the first semi-final will vote Sweden, France and Spain and in the second semi-final Germany, Italy and United Kingdom.
    At the start of the Allocation Draw Hanna Stjärne, CEO of state broadcaster SVT, and Martin Österdahl, Executive Producer of Eurovision 2016, revealed this year's slogan "COME TOGETHER" and the main Theme Art.
    " Europe needs to Come Together " was the most important words of Hanna Stjärne, “We aim to create an unforgettable show when Europe comes together here in Stockholm and in your living rooms at home” added Martin Österdahl.
    Expecting the first experiences of stage and the configuration of the arena the competing countries continue to choose artists and songs, hopping for the victory or a good place in the Grand Final. The Eurovision Song Contest was awarded in 2015 for his long history with Record Guinness. Sixty-one years later, it still teaches us that the original idea of ​​Marcel Bezençon is still an excellent core of existence, and is none other than the union of the peoples through a song contest, the Eurovision Song Contest.